Sanitary dispensing device



Sept. 18, 1928. 1,684,877

. E. c. MORRIS SANITARY DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Sept. 1'7, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l [men/607 Elnzer CJZbf/ols, gammy afiw.

Sept. 18, 1928. 1,684,877

E. C. MORRIS SANITARY DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Sept. 17, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 17111670507"? 3 Elmer claw-6'6,

Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER C. MORRIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

SERVO-PAPER CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SANITARY DISPENSING DEVICE.

Application filed September 17, 1923. Serial No. 663,118.

This invention relates primarily to devices adapted for the free dispensing of such articles as folded napkins, towels, and the like, and among the objects of this invention are 6 to provide an effective mechanism for dispensing folded napkins, towels, and the like; to provide a dispensing device to hold a large number of folded paper napkins, and which, by reason of the character of such fold and of the dispensing opening, releases but one napkin at a time; to provide a dis pensing device enclosing a large number-of folded paper napkins and preventing air currents from blowing or. disarranging them; to provide a dispensing device effecting economy in the use of folded paper napkins; to provide a dispensing device to hold and conceal in a sanitary manner a large number of folded paper napkins; to provide a dispensing device to hold folded paper napkins and conveniently release one napkin at a time; and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and as are inherent in the construc- 25 tion suggested.

My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts indicated in the accompanying drawings and, while I have shown therein a preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire the same to be understood as illustrative only and not as limiting this invention.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of what is now considered the preferred form of my construction; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 with the cover removed; Fig. 3 is a substantially central vertical longitudinal section of this construction; Fig. a is a vertical transverse section substantially along the plane indicated by the line 4r-f, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section substantially along the plane indicated by the line 55, Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section substantially along the plane.

indicated by the line 66, Fig. 3. v

Referring more in detail to the annexed drawings, numeral 1 denotes in general the body member of my new construction while numeral 2 denotes the cover therefor. Inside of the body portion 1 there is a slanting bottom 3 inclining toward the end of the body in which is located'the dispensing opening l. Partly around this opening 4 is an outwardly directed flange 5 which is cut away as shown at 6 and slightly turned in, thus forming a notch for the release of the corner 7 of a napkin 8. It will be observed that the dispensing opening through which the folded articles are withdrawn, is surrounded on its edges by marginal flanges, back of which are held both sides and both ends-of the foldfolded article may be grasped and when a pull is made on this V-shaped' corner, both the ends and sides bf the folded article are rcleasably held in the container by the marginal flanges around all sides of the opening. These flanges resist the removal of the folded article, but the article readily bends or collapses slightly endwise and sidewise in order to be removed from the opening. If these napkins were always evenly folded, it would be unnecessary to have this notch in the edge of the dispensing opening 4 but, since they cannot always be folded exactly evenly, whether done by hand or by machine, it is advisable to provide such a, notch. This may be provided for either a right being shown in Fig. 1, or notches may be provided upon both sides of the o ening so Y that both right and left hand folde napkins may be dispensed from the one holder. It is customary with machine'folded napkins that one-half of them are right hand fold and one-half left hand fold and it is, therefore, considered preferable to have both sides of the dispensing opening 4 cut away as shown at 6 in Fig. 1. One of the important features of the invention is to provide a device from which paper napkins may be quickly and conveniently dispensed without danger of tearing. Though the dispensing opening is substantially triangular the corners and ends of the triangular opening are well rounded whereby as the paper napkin is withdrawn, the rounded corners and ends ends can be concave or convex. In either case the rolling effect of the napkin in dis-- pensing action is substantially the same, the elimination of binding and tearing being accomplished.

It will also be observed that the dispensing opening is comparatively large displaying substantially all of the folded edge of the napkin, thereby facilitating the dispensing of the article, andthat friction on the article is reduced to a minimum due to the large dispensing opening and the small portion of the napkin held behind the walls of the dispensing opening.

Extending longitudinall of the bottom 3 and substantiall centra ly thereof is a groove 9 formed y bending the metal. This groove serves to receive the tips of the folded napkins and permit them to slide along without any interference with or by other parts .of the device. This will also assist in holding the folded napkins in upright position and uiding them in their movement toward the ispensing opening. The napkins are held in an upright position by a follower 10 which is held against the napkins and actuated in a direction toward the dispensing opening by a rollable means 11 which is shown as being preferably a cylindrical piece of iron or the like. It is, of course, understood that an iron or other heavy ball could be substituted for the cylinder 11, though the latter is considered preferable. Secured to the back face of the follower 10 is a bracket 12 having means 13 adapted to enage the sides of the rollable member 11 to Eeep the same from getting out of alinement or tilting over to one side.

Either in addition to or in substitution for the bracket 12 and wings 13 there may be provided projections 14, which are either secured to the follower 10 or formed integral therewith by stamping out of the same material as the follower, and at the same operation, rojections from the lower part 15 thereo It is, of course, considered preferable to form this integral and by a single stamping operation, because it reduces the cost of the completed article. At the upper end of the follower 10, a portion thereof is bent over to form a hook 16 which may be hooked over the back edge 17 of the container when it is desired to place additional napkins therein, or when, for any other reason, it is not desirable to have the follower pressing against the napkins. The space 18 at the back end of the dispenser is provided primarily for the reception of the rollable member 11 and the bracket 12 when the follower is pushed backwardly as far as it will go. At this point it is noted that the upper portion of the dispenser is substantially V- shaped in cross-section in order to conform more or less closely to the shape of the folded napkin; The lower portion of the opening then widens toward the bottom 3 for the reception of the wider portion 15 of the follower 10. It will be clear from this that when the follower is pushed backwardly and the hook 16 engaged with the upper edge 17 of the body, the rollable member 11 will tend to swing the follower forwardly and upwardly and pass thereunder, but the widened portion 15 will then strike the under face of the outwardl flared lower portion referred to above, an will then be unable to swing further. From this it will be clear that the follower will be held back away from the napkins so that a new supply of the latter may be placed in the dispenser. After this has been again charged, the hook will be re leased from the upper edge of the box and the cover 2 replaced. The napkins can then be removed one at a time as needed by simply taking hold of the corner 7 and pulling. It is clear that towels and the like may be dispensed, in the same manner,

It is, of course, understood that the specific description of structure set forth above may be departed from without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in this specification and the appended claims.

Having now described my invention,

I claim:

1. A dispensing device for articles folded to form an acute angle between elongated sides, said device comprising an elongated contaner having a dispensing opening at one end and a base declined toward the end having the dispensing opening, said container having its opposite sides inwardly angled along an intermediate part to provide outwardly flared upper and lower guides, the upper guide being adapted to engage the elongated sides of the articles, a follower slidable along the container havin a restricted interme -ate part and flared upper and lower parts to travel respectively in the upper and lower guides of the container, and

means for moving the follower along the containcr toward the end having the dispensing opening. f

2. A dispensing device for articles folded to form an acute angle between elongated sides, said device comprising an elongated conta ner having a dispensing opening at one lower guide of the container and on the desite sldesinwardly angled along an inter-' mediate part to provide outwardly flared upper and lower guides, the upper guide being adapted to engage the elongated sides of the articles, a follower slidable along the container having a restricted intermediate part and flared upper and lower parts to travel respectively in the upper and lower ides of the container, and means for movmg the follower along the container towards the end having the dispensing opening.

4. A dispensing device for articles folded to form an acute angle between elongated sides, said device comprising an elongated container having a dispensing opening at one end and a base declining towards the end having the dispensing opening, said, container having its opposite sides inwardly an led along an intermediate part to provi e outwardly flared upper and lower guides, the upper guide being adapted to engage the elongated sides of the articles, a follower slidable along the container having a restricted intermediate part and flared upper and lower parts to travel respectively in the upper and lower guides of the container, said follower having a limited pivot action creating yielding tension on the articles and gravity means movable in the lower guide of the container and on the declining bottom to urge the follower alon the container toward the end having the ispensing opening.

5. A dispensing device for articles folded to form an acute angle between elongated sides, said device comprisin an elongated container having at one en a dispensing opening having its sides outwardly flared towards their upper ends, said contalnerhaving its opposite sides inwardly angled to provide a ared'guide declining towards the dispensing opening, and means for feeding the articles along the guide to the dispensing 0 ening'.

6. X dispensing device for articles folded to form an acute. angle between elongated sides, said device comprisin an elongated container having at one end opening havin 1 its corners and ends rounded to substantial y oval shape with the sides adjacent the opening cut away to display overlapping corners of said article, said container having its opposite sides inwardly a dispensing angled to provide a flared guide leading to I the dispensin opening, and means for feeding the ar'ticlles along the guide to the dis pensing opening.

- 7. A dispensing device for articles folded to form an acute angle between elongated sides, said device comprising an elongated container having a comparatlvely large dispensing opening at one end with a stationary flange adjacent the sides and ends thereof, said dispensing opening having an end and corners rounded to substantially oval shape,-

with a base inclining towards the end having thevdispensing opening, said container having its opposite sides inwardly angled along an intermediate part to provide outwardly flared upper and lower guides, the upper guide being adapted to engage the elongated sides of the articles, a follower slidable along the container, said follower having a restricted intermediate part and flared upper and lower parts to travel respectively in the upper and lower guides of the container, and means for moving the follower along the container towards the end having the dispensing opening.

8. A dispensing device for articles folded to form an acute angle between elongated sides, said device comprising an elongated container having a comparatively large dispensing opening at one end, with a stationary flange surrounding the opening, said opening having its corners adjacent the up- I per end rounded, with the lower end of said opening formed to a semi-circle substantially oval shape, the flange around the opening having its edge bent to form a lip por' tion extending outwardly, said lip portion, rounded corners, and oval sha e ends adapted to roll and guide the e ges and ends of the articles around the end and corners, and outwardly flared lip portion, thereby facilitating the release of the foremost art1- cle without tearing or disrupting said article, and meansin the container to hold the articles against the walls of said dispensing opening and in dispensing position.

9. dispensing device for folded articles comprising a container for the articles, having a dispensing opening through which the articles may be dispensed, said opening havlng an oval shape end and rounded corners with a narrow stationary flange at its sides, and a comparatively broad stationary flange at each end, said flange having its edge bent outwardly to provide a rolling lip portion 10. A dispensing device for folded articles, said device comprising. an elongatedcontainer having a dispensing openingat one end, a follower plate mounted in the container to be moved to and from the dispensing opening, said plate aving recesses in theedges of its opposite side and guides extending longitudinally along the inner faces of the opposite sides of the container pensing opening, a follower plate mounted in the container to gravitate toward the dispensing opening, said plate having recesses in the edges of its opposite sides, and guides extending longitudinally along the inner faces of the opposite sides of the container and parallel with the bottom of the container, said guides registering with said recesses to maintain the follower plate in an upright position in its travel along the container;

12. A dispensing device for folded articles, said device comprising an elongated container having a dispensing opening at one end and having its opposite sides deformed to provide inwardly projecting guides extending longitudinally along intermediate parts of the sides, and a follower plate slidable along the container and having opposite recesses in its intermediate part to register with the longitudinal guides to maintain the follower plate upright during its travel in the container, saidi'ollower plate having extensive upper and lower parts respectively extending above and below the opposite recesses to balance the load on the plate.

13. A dispensing device forfolded articles, said device comprising an elongated container having a dispensing opening at one end and a bottom declined toward the dispensing opening, said container having its opposite sides deformed to provide inwardly projecting guides extending along intermediate parts of the sides parallel to thev declined bottom, and a follgwer plate mounted in the container to gravitate toward the dispensing opening, said plate having opposite recesses in its intermediate part to register with the guides to maintain the plate upright during its travel in the container, said follower plate having extensive upper and lower parts respectively extending above andbelow the opposite recesses to balance the load on the plate.

In witness whereof. I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

ELMER C. MORRIS. 

